Aaron Connolly skilled one in every of his most pleasing spells in soccer the final time he performed for East Kilbride Thistle – and he’s hoping his third Showpark stint might be one other to savour.
Greenhills-based striker Connolly signed for the Jags final Thursday after a interval on trial for Alan Paterson and Russell Craig’s facet and he's keen to seek out his love of the sport once more after a tough couple of years off the pitch.
The previous St Andrew’s and St Brides’ pupil, who additionally had a spell with Lowland League facet EKFC in 2015/16, has fond reminiscences of his final stint with the Jags, netting key targets because the workforce gained promotion from Central District Second Division within the 2016/17 marketing campaign.
And he hopes to offer a serving to hand for the rest of this season because the Jags attempt to climb away from the underside finish of West of Scotland Convention C.
He stated: “The final time I used to be right here we received promoted and it was a very pleasing season.
“I performed there underneath Billy Campbell and we managed to win 5 of our final six video games to get promotion.
“It was one in every of my most pleasing seasons in soccer. A whole lot of my buddies had been there on the time, I went to high school within the city and I’m again staying in East Kilbride now so it’s an enormous factor for me.
“It was a no brainer for me after they requested me to return in and, hopefully, I could make a good influence.”
Connolly brings with him a wealth of expertise. He began his profession within the senior ranks with Ayr United and went on to have profitable spells within the Juniors with Cumnock, Glenafton and Irvine Meadow.
Lately, his psychological well being has suffered and he has spoken brazenly about suicide makes an attempt, which have been well-documented within the information pages of the native and nationwide press.
And he believes a return to his hometown - from Newton Mearns - and his native workforce is simply what he wants after a “tumultuous” couple of years amid the pandemic.
The 30-year-old stated: “I’ve not performed for a very long time and it’s been years since I performed anyplace constantly.
“I used to be at Fauldhouse after which St Roch’s for a bit till the pandemic hit. I solely performed a handful of instances for St Roch’s with the a number of stops and begins.
“And I didn’t go anyplace this season.
“For me, it’s nearly having fun with soccer once more.
“We’ve all had a very tumultuous two years with the pandemic and I’ve barely kicked a ball in that point.
“I’ve had some difficulties with my well being and issues like that. I had a spell in hospital on the finish of final 12 months so it’s taken me a little bit of time to get again as much as health.
“It’s good for me to be again within the space. The chance to go and play soccer once more was the massive lure for me as effectively - and to do it at what's a good degree.
“I simply need to get myself match and firing once more.”
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